USA > Iowa > Jackson County > The history of Jackson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Iowa miscellaneous matters, &c > Part 60
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It should have been stated that the first mill erected by Mr. Wright in 1854 was burned two years afterward, but was subsequently rebuilt.
Barnes Brothers' Manufactory .- These gentlemen began business in 1867, upon the same ground where their factory now stands. At that time, they were engaged almost exclusively in wagon-making. In 1872, they began the manufacture of a pump of their own invention, and upon which they secured a patent. They now make three varieties of pumps, known as Barnes' Patent, which have a very successful sale, and have taken premiums wherever exhib- ited at State and county fairs.
In 1874 and 1876, their rapidly increasing business called for more commo- dious quarters, with which they supplied themselves by tearing away the old building, and erecting the two-story brick manufactory which they now occupy on Platt street. For two years, they have manufactured a stalk-cutter of their own patent, which has met with fair success. In addition, Barnes Brothers manufacture wagons, and do a general business in wood and iron work, ranking their manufactory among the foremost of Maquoketa industries.
Tridel's Foundry was established in 1875 by J. Tridel. Here is done all sorts of work in casting. Mr. Tridel, however, makes a specialty of iron fencing, and of a basement window sash, grate and frame combined, for which he holds the exclusive right to manufacture and sell in Iowa. Job-turning in wood also receives considerable attention at this establishment.
MAQUOKETA CORNET BAND.
This band was organized in September, 1875. by the election of V. Peters as Leader, and J. Scholl as Secretary and Treasurer. The band consists of twelve players. The present Leader is Joseph Schieberl, with Thomas Hench as Secretary. The band is well trained, and discourses excellent music, meet- ing for practice on Wednesday and Saturday evenings in Centennial Hall. The players, with their instruments, are as follows : Joseph Schieberl, E flat clarionet ; A. Scheiberl, B flat clarionet ; J. Scholl, B flat cornet ; Fred Moffatt, 2d B flat cornet ; . V. Peters, solo alto ; M. Nelson, 2d alto; M. Stanley, 3d alto ; Tom Berkley, 1st tenor ; Tom Hench, baritone; John Blunt, bass; George
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Graul, tenor drum ; James Wilson, bass drum. Six of these players form a string band, which does not exist as a separate organization. The pieces belonging to this band are 1st and 2d violin, clarionet, cornet, trombone and bass viol. The bands have neat and attractive uniforms.
HOTELS.
Few towns of its size have the hotel accommodations, either with respect to quantity or quality, to compare with Maquoketa.
We have already spoken of Maquoketa's first hotel and of its success. The Goodenow House has long since disappeared, and we will sketch in brief those which have been its successors.
In 1856, the Decker House, a moderate-sized frame building, was erected by James Decker and E. R. Woley, of Watertown, N. Y., on the spot where it still stands, and is now known as the Old Decker House. This was completed about January, 1857, and was opened by one Goodrich Brainard. The hotel was kept in turn, after Brainard, by John E. Goodenow, E. R. Woley, W. McKim, A. W. Wakeman, G. W. Niles, J. N. Strickland and D. P. Smith.
Previous to 1876, Mr. James Decker had been talking for some time of builling a hotel which should be a glory to the city for years to come. His plans were generally regarded as extravagant, but, in the summer of 1876, the work of excavating was begun. Everything was done under the personal supervision of the builder. Nothing but the best materials were employed, and those in such liberality as to make the building a marvel in strength and solidity. The result was that, early in 1878, there was opened in Maquoketa one of the finest hotel buildings in this part of Iowa. The house was furnished by its owner, and though it is not large, everything about it is elegant and substantial. The house is 44 feet front and 160 feet deep, and contains thirty-five sleeping-rooms. The office and dining-room are commodious apartments. The ceilings, begin- ning with the first floor, are sixteen, twelve and ten feet respectively.
When the new hotel was finished, the old house adjoining was abandoned. The first tenant was O. N. Bugby, who remained about a year. Since his departure in April, 1879, the house has been conducted by E. R. Woley, the present accommodating proprietor, who is assisted in the office by -- Corpron as clerk.
The Kimball House was built about 1859 by one named Rhodes, and has been known by various titles, the name given being usually that of the pro- prietor. The house has been occupied for a number of years by Mr. Miller, and known as the Miller House. It was purchased in July, 1878, by P. N. Kimball, an old resident of Sabula, and by him refurnished throughout.
Mr. Kimball, finding his room not commensurate with the patronage he enjoys, has just completed an addition to the house, finer than the part to which it is built. The office and rooms in the new part are neat and comfortable. A further improvement and enlargement of the house is contemplated. It now contains twenty sleeping-rooms.
The Midland House was built in 1871 by William Skinner, of Lyons, and by him named the Midland House, in honor of the Midland Road, completed from Lyons to Maquoketa that year. It was opened in June, 1871, by Messrs Niles & Center. They were succeeded by L. J. Hawes as landlord, who gave way, in 1877, to J. Collamer, who equipped the house throughout with new furniture. The Midland is a frame building, and contains about fif- teen sleeping-rooms.
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TEMPERANCE MATTERS.
Maquoketa is fortunate enough to possess among her citizens a very strong element which numbers in its ranks a large assembly of those who style them- selves " temperance people."
The question of how to get rid of the giant evil has been a problem since the village became a town, and before. The Washingtonian movement did its brief work in Maquoketa, and the re-action which came about in a few months was even worse than the original evil.
A society for the promotion of temperance was organized in 1854, and this was followed, in 1857, by a temperance lodge, which was organized in 1857. of which Dr. J. H. Allen was first President. This institution did a good work, and, after a brief existence, was succeeded by the " Sons of Tem- perance." Next came the " Temple of Honor," then the " Sons and Daugh- ters of Temperance," all of which organizations kept the subject agitated, and doubtless accomplished their share of good in helping men to sobriety and the community to culture and peacefulness.
Maquoketa has had for some years a prohibitory law against saloons, but, as happens in the majority of cases where such a law exists, it has not been enforced. Nay, it is found impossible to enforce it.
At the spring term of the District Court, 1874, temperance women, to the number of two or three hundred, in a body, waited on the Judge in open court, asking more severity in imposing fines and in the collection of those imposed. The Judge responded briefly and respectfully, though the difference in the effi- ciency of the laws can scarcely be said to be perceptible.
The Blue Ribbon movement struck Maquoketa in January, 1878, and dur- ing the first week, under the labors of Messss. Hoofstitler and Rowell, about eighteen hundred signers were secured to the following pledge: "'With mal- ice toward none, and charity for all,' I, the undersigned, do pledge my word and honor, God helping me, to abstain from all intoxicating liquors as a bever- age, and that I will, by all honorable means, encourage others to abstain."
The Maquoketa Reform Club was established immediately after this move- ment, and included in its membership 500 persons, many of whom had been drunkards or moderate drinkers. During the first year of the Club's existence, the membership was confined to males ; but, in January, 1879, the ladies were invited as allies, and, as is usually the case in such reforms, they are not behind their principals in energy and enthusiasm. Through the generosity of Mr. John E. Goodenow. the Reform Club is able to hold regular meetings in its own hall every two weeks.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union has an auxiliary society in Maquoketa, composed of a goodly number of devoted ladies, who hold fort- nightly meetings in the hall of the Reform Club.
Since the above sketch was written, a license ordinance has been passed by the City Council of Maquoketa. This measure was strongly opposed by the temperance people, but was carried by the argument usually put forward for license, viz., That the prohibitory law cannot be enforced, and the city might as well derive some revenue from the evil, which is bound to exist in any event.
MAQUOKETA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
This organization provides for the reading portion of Maquoketa people a reasonable opportunity to enjoy good reading, at a moderate expense. The
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library is not large, comprising only about seven hundred volumes ; but the works are well selected, and many of them of a quite recent date.
The Association is a joint-stock company, and is maintained by the sub- scriptions of those who use the library and by the sale of new shares of stock. It enjoys a fair patronage. The library is in the Excelsior office, and the senior editor, Mr. A. F. Shaw, is Librarian. The other officers of the Association are: Mrs. M. V. Schrader, President; F. M. Fort, Vice Pres- ident ; Miss Susan Sears, Treasurer ; Mrs. Seba Stephens, Secretary.
CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION.
At the time citizens' associations were in vogue in Iowa towns, Maquoketa organized. It was doubtless the intention of these good patriots to make a metropolis of the village at once. Showy circulars were to be sent over the country, setting forth the hydraulic powers of the neighboring streams, the quantity of cheap timber in the vicinity, and the facilities for distributing farm machinery from Maquoketa, as a center over a large scope of fine terri- tory.
The organization was effected in the fall of 1872. It was well officered : C. M. Sanborn, Pesident; Russel Perham, Vice President ; C. M. Dunbar, Secretary ; J. Carter, Treasurer ; Directors-Mott Watson, B. A. Spencer, T. E. Cannell, D. W. Hubbell, D. Fields, J. E. Goodenow, H. B. Griffin, Pierce Mitchell and G. T. Bradley.
Its history is written ; in the bloom of its youth was it stricken, and a city still yearning for manufactories mourns its untimely end and the consequent business depression which succeeded it in 1873.
MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
effected an organization January 28, 1850, and was composed originally of a number of citizens who met for the purpose of locating and fitting up a burial ground. A small parcel of land just beyond the Academy, including about an acre, had been previously used, and to add to this was purchased, just after the organization of the Association, two acres adjoining from Joseph McCloy. The by-laws adopted by the Association provided' that every lot-owner should have a vote in the meeting of the Association, and that the management of affairs should be intrusted to five Trustees, who were then elected as follows : C. E. Brown, Ira Stimpson, Lyman Ballard, Asahel Hall, Daniel Rhodes ; Secretary, Edwin Kirkup; Treasurer. Jonas Clark.
This inclosure of three acres has been the city's burial ground from that day to this. It has been recently fenced and is in neat condition ; but every lot in the inclosure has been sold, and it has become necessary to enlarge the boundaries of the cemetery. Accordingly, during the past winter, the City Council have purchased four acres adjoining on the south, and have turned over the same to the Mount Hope Association. Measures are now about to be taken to inclose this addition.
MAQUOKETA BIBLE SOCIETY.
A Jackson County Bible Society was organized in the county, in a very early day, as auxiliary to the American Bible Society, and for a good number of years had a prosperous existence. Subsequent, however, to 1870, the Society began to meet with disaster. Mistakes were made in its management ; matters
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were allowed to run at odds and ends, when, about 1877, the Society so far recovered itself as to make the discovery that delinquent agents and depositors had left it some $400 in debt. The old organization did not have the energy left necessary to assist it to recovery of life, and it became one of the things that were. The records of this institution are lost, and it is impossible for us to give an accurate sketch of its career.
Over the ruins of the old society, it was resolved, by several devoted spirits who were not prepared to give up the Bible cause, to form a new society. Per- mission was granted from the American Bible Society to organize an auxiliary in Maquoketa, to be known as the Maquoketa Bible Society. This was formed in a quiet way March 30, 1878, and at a public mass-meeting held in the Methodist Episcopal Church on March 31, the organization was completed by the election of the following officers : A. Munger, President ; O. W. Joiner, Vice President ; J. F. Thompson, Secretary ; W. B. Sutherland, Treasurer ; . S. D. Lyman, G. S. Martin and G. Truax, Directors. The same officers equip the association to-day, except in case of the Secretaryship, which is now held by F. M. Taylor.
The depository is in Dr. G. S. Martin's drug store. The Society is now in a thriving condition. They have no agents employed, however. They only presume to occupy Maquoketa and South Fork Townships as their territory.
FRATERNITIES.
Helion Lodge, No. 36. A., F. ยง A. M .- Helion Lodge, No. 36, A .. F. & A. M., of Maquoketa, was organized nnder dispensation May 58, 1851. and chartered at Muscatine, June 18, 1853. The charter members were Preston L. Lake, Samuel Chandler, William Y. Earle, Thomas M. Wright. C. Cheney, M. M. Curtis, S. Stephens, Nathaniel Butterworth, John Hanna, Thomas Wright, Thomas Darling, J. C. Wendel. The first officers were: P. L. Lake, W. M .; Thomas Wright, S. W .; M. M. Curtis, J. W. ; William Y. Earle, Secretary ; Thomas M. Wright, Treasurer.
Thomas Wright, of Maquoketa, is the oldest Mason now a member of the Lodge, having been initiated in Clinton Lodge, No. 278, in the State of New York, in 1822.
The first meeting of Helion Lodge and meetings for a good many years subsequently, were held in what was then the second story of Jonas Clark's store, which stood near where Van Evera's drug store now stands. Then, meetings were held for a number of years in the room now occupied as a HIall by the Odd Fellows. About 1871, the Masons removed to their pres- ent location, over Carter's hardware store. This room they have fitted up in a comfortable and handsome manner, but so soon as the financial condition of the Lodge will permit, it is the purpose of the Order to own a hall of their own. They look forward to that time as no distant day.
The Lodge now numbers seventy-two members. The present officers are : G. A. Isbell, W. M .; O. Henry, S. W .; G. A. Hess, J. W .; C. G. Covell, Treas- urer ; C. C. Dudley, Secretary.
A.O.U. W .- As this is comparatively a new Order, and, probably, unknown to many of our readers, a few words upon the history at large will be appro- priate.
On the 5th day of November, 1868, in Meadville, Penn., fourteen men assembled and organized the first Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Work- men. The motive that prompted them was a pure and unselfish one, and their
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plan of operation is the very best to carry out the purpose for which the Order is intended, that of Charity, Hope and Protection. From the date of the organization, the Order grew slowly until July 4, 1870, when the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was instituted at Meadville. The Order continued to spread, reaching into Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, and, in 1871, the first Lodge of the A. O. U. W. in Iowa was instituted at Washington.
In 1874, there were but five Lodges in the State. From this time, the growth has been rapid, and there are now nearly two hundred subordinate Lodges, while the membership in Iowa nears ten thousand.
It is a benevolent Order, not unlike the I. O. O. F., helping the widows and orphans and caring for the sick. A distinguishing feature is the beneficiary department, by virtue of which $2,000 is paid to the heirs of deceased mem- bers. This of course is a virtual life insurance, and no one can be admitted . to membership without having passed a satisfactory medical examination by the Medical Examiner of the Lodge. Candidates for membership must be less than fifty years of age. There are two Lodges of this order in Maquo- keta.
Timber City Lodge, A. O. U. W., No. 8 .- This Lodge was chartered November 20, 1874. Its first officers were : E. A. Fuller, M. W .; J. T. Sar- gent, F .; H. K. Ehrlick, O .; William Gurius, G. F .; S. L. Baker, P. M. W .; G. L. Johnson, R .; D. P. Smith, G .; M. Dalzell, Receiver.
The present membership of Timber City Lodge is seventy-one. The Lodge meets in an elegantly furnished hall, over Steear's boot and shoe store, which has been leased for a term of five years. Meetings are held every Tuesday even- ing, and the articles of the Order provide for degree work, in some respects, similar to other secret organizations.
There has been one death in this Lodge, that of D. K. Smith, in 1878. His heirs received $2,000, and $5 per week during six months in which the deceased was ill.
The present officers of Timber City Lodge are: H. E. French, M. W .; J. C. McGee, F .; M. Reynor, O .; E. S. Thompson, G .; E. W. Wood, P. M. W .; J. C. Guilfoil, R .; J. Gleasen, S .; John Dostal, Receiver.
Monitor Lodge, No. 67, A. O. U. W., was chartered May 18, 1876. The first officers were: Fred. Gurius, P. M. W .; J. F. Thompson, M. W .; E. S. Belknap, F .; G. B. Orcutt, O .; D. F. House, Recorder; E. B. Chase, Finan- cier; A. E. Wray, Receiver; E. P. Hatfield, G. The Lodge now numbers seventy-seven members." The brethren occupy the hall of the I. O. O. F., and have done so since the organization of their Order. They meet every Monday evening. There have been no deaths in this Lodge since its organization. The officers for 1879 are: W. C. McPeak, P. M. W .; G. B. Orcutt, M. W .; R. F. Hayes, F .; William Grant, O .; D. F. House, Recorder; E. M. Ballengee, Financier; A. E. Wray, Receiver; H. H. French, G.
Maquoketa Lodge, No. 22, I. L. H .- The Iowa Legion of Honor is a new Order, which dates its organization at Marshalltown, Iowa, in March, 1879. Its purpose is not dissimilar to that of the A. O. U. W., and the insurance scheme provides for an insurance of $2,000 or $4,000, at the discretion of the member. This Lodge, No. 22, was organized in Maquoketa, June 11, 1879, with twenty members. Meetings are held in Odd Fellows Hall, on alternate Thursday evenings. The officers are: J. C. Guilford, President; Charles Palmer, Vice President; W. T. Seaward, Recording Secretary ; Alexander Organ, Financial Secretary ; C. M. Dunbar, Treasurer; S. T. Holmes, Chaplain ; M. J. Har- rington, Usher; F. C. Miller, Door-keeper.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Jackson Lodge, No. 33, I. O. O. F .- This Lodge was organized March 28, 1851, through the agency of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Bellevue. The charter members were John Pope, J. N. Skelton, T. E. Cannell, J. R. Tobias, L. G. Ransom. The charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of Iowa, Octo- ber 27. 1852. The first meeting of Jackson Lodge was held in the second story of Jonas Clark's store, which stood on the southwest corner of Main and Platt streets. The first officers were: John Pope, N. G .; J. R. Tobias, V. G., J. N. Skelton, Secretary ; T. E. Cannell, Treasurer.
In 1854, when Mr. Fellows built the block in which the Odd Fellows now have their hall, they made him a proposition to buy the uncompleted third story, which had been inclosed but not plastered. He agreed to sell the same for $800, and the bargain was closed, Jackson Lodge paying him $400 in cash and securing therefor a bond for a deed when the remainder should be paid. They proceeded to fit up the hall and the bond for deed was given to Noble . Grand Pope, who was then County Recorder, to place on record. Mr. Pope mislaid this instrument in some manner and forgot it. In the crash of 1857, Mr. Fellows was crippled financially and gave a mortgage on his block to a firm in Chicago. The mortgage was foreclosed and the building advertised to be sold by order of the Court. The lodge officers began to inquire into their title, and found no bond recorded, consequently they had none to inquire into. The building was bid in by Messrs. Schrader & Dunham, of Maquoketa. The Lodge had lost not only their $400, but everything they had done in the way of improvements. Schrader & Dunham kindly leased the hall to the Lodge for ten years at $20 per year. When the lease expired, the building was the property of Mr. Taubman, the present owner. He asked $50 per year rent for the hall, and the Lodge regarding that sum as too high, removed for several years to the room across Main street, long known as the Goodenow Hall. In 1875, they bought the present hall, being the one so long occupied by them, with which they had been so unfortunate. For this third floor they paid $500, and now have it fitted up and furnished in good shape.
The membership of the Lodge in good standing is forty-six. Financial condition is such that they have money in the treasury. Jackson Lodge has given large amounts in the way of charity, not only to the families of its own members, but to other objects. The present officers are: J. N. Wright, N. G .; E. C. Sterns, V. G .; D. S. Haight, Secretary, and H. H. French, Treasurer. D. S. Haight has been Secretary of the Lodge about eight years. 'John Pope was once, in the early history of the Lodge, a member of the Grand Lodge of the United States.
CHURCHES.
Congregational Church .- This society had its beginning in a private house. During the summer and fall of 1843, the question of a Congregational Church had been agitated in the village. Thursday, November 30, had been set apart by a number of ministers of this vicinity as a day of Thanksgiving-Iowa not yet being a State, there was no official Thanksgiving Day in the Territory. On the evening of this fast-day, a few Christian friends met at the house of John Shaw, and it was agreed to unite into a church. The original members of this organization were William H. Efner, Mrs. Sophia Shaw, Thomas S. Flathers, Eliel Nims, Elizabeth Nims, Joseph McCloy and Phoebe S. McCloy.
On Sunday, December 10, 1843, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first publicly administered by Rev. William Salter, Missionary in the service of the American Home Missionary Society.
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At this same time was organized the Northern Iowa Association of the Congregational Church, Rev. E. B. Turner, of Cascade ; Rev. O. Emerson, of De Witt, and Rev. A. B. Robbins, of Bloomington, being here present in addition to Rev. Salter above mentioned. Thomas S. Flathers and William H. Efner were appointed and chosen first Elders of the Church.
At a meeting held December 17, 1843, it was voted that Rev. William Salter be requested to labor with the Church during one-half of his time, the remainder of the time being devoted to the church at Andrew. He accepted and continued with the Church until April, 1846.
At the end of Mr. Salter's pastorate, the Church numbered twenty mem- bers. During his stay, the services were held for the most part in the little log schoolhouse, which has been already mentioned in speaking of the early days of Maquoketa.
From 1846 to 1848, Rev. William A. Keith was Pastor. He was suc- ceeded, after an interval of a few months, by Rev. John W. Windsor, who continued until 1856. During his pastorate, and in the year 1850, the society was duly incorporated under the State laws and efforts were made to build a church. The first building of the society, which stood on the lot occupied by the new church, was dedicated in 1853, Rev. Salter preaching the dedication sermon.
The next minister was Rev. G. C. Delevan, who was here during a portion of 1856 and 1857. He was succeeded by Rev. William A. Patten, who remained one year, and, in 1859, Rev. P. Blakeman commenced his labors in Maquoketa. Mr. Blakeman, in 1861, gave way to Rev. C. S. Cody, who continued for two years. The next Pastor was Rev. J. B. Gilbert, whose ministry continued over four years, followed in order by Rev. J. C. Switzer and Rev. McCook.
In 1871, Rev. Graves became Pastor of the Church and preached until November, 1874. Then came a vacancy of one year, when Rev. S. F. Millikan, the present Pastor, was called to the pulpit.
During the present pastorate, the work and growth of the Church has been most encouraging. A meeting was held May 25, 1877, at which it was resolved to build a new church, and a committee was appointed with that pur- pose in view.
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